Your best van accessory or gadget?

Been looking at getting a few bits for my European summer vacation and I got thinking. I was wondering what gadgets or accessories you have in you van? And how have they helped?

I'm thinking what makes camping easier? Entertaining simpler or cooking quicker? What was the best few quid you have spent and how has it helped?

Think it would be a good thread for sharing simple ideas.

 

For entertainment. Easy.

Get an ipad or decent size tablet. Forget dvd drop down screens. A tablet with cigar charger.

Also worth the money is one of these tables. Folds up small for size and not too expensive.

http://www.tesco.com/direct/tesco-f...chairs/317-9604.prd?pageLevel=&skuId=317-9604

 

The 12 volt Led self adhesive strip we just fitted , takes up no room and gives a great light off.

 

mellon baller

 

The trailer bringing it to its new home - hopefully on 6th June

 

Get a Diablo - eat toasties all holiday and feed the ducks with the offcuts! (dont forget the burn spray - its inevitable)

 

Not unless your 5 stone maximum!!!! I used one of these for a while (needs must) they arent that small and bite yer fingers too. I replace with one of these:http://www.decathlon.co.uk/4-person-table-with-seats-id_8303444.html

 

USB and cig lighter combo unit, for all your phone and sat nav charging needs.

Other than that, a good stereo for some driving tunes.

 

My Busfriends tell me I'm nuts; however I carry an oven around.


This unit is for using on campsites as it consumes only 800Watt. Also cheap; goes for +/- €25,-

I don't like the bread they serve in Germany and France and the campsites I visit never have a on-site backery. Now I buy croissants and baguettes which we can bake-off in the oven. The oven is placed underneat the rock-'n-roll bed when not in use.

I also have a camping watercooker in the Bus. This unit is 500Watts. The reason for carrying this: "Why use gas as we allready paid for electricity"
And I recently added an handblender. (got obsolete at home)

Don't know if we're gonna use it, if not I'll remove it from the bus.

Then lights:


I fitted small led-spots in the over-head cabinet. Which is easy for reading while in bed.
I added Halogen spots in the interior back in 2006. Those were 220V, but I replaced the sockets for 12v ones. Just recently I fitted LED bulb in it.

I also added a colorchanging LED strip.


I'm always thinking about new things which would be useful in the bus.


greetz
Marcel

 

I'm with you on the phone and sat nav. But please don't camp close to me. I hate listening to people's music while camping.

We were out walking yesterday and passed a younger couple also walking, with a dog, and a rucksack with some sort of music playing device inside. Playing while they were walkin WTF

 

forgot one: I bought a steel weapon cartrige case, which (alsmost) fits perfectly into the luggage compartment on the roof.
We had to modify the case slightly; by cutting out 2 triangler shaped pieces out of the bottom and weld it up again.

This is what it looked like and what it's now.




(put some heavy screws trough the steel roof and the Westfalia roof to secure the steel case)

Painted in the future color of the Bus L21H Marino yellow



I use the steelcase for carrying my tools and spares arround and to save as much space inside the bus as possible.

greetz
Marcel

 

I'm easy to please

 

Totally agree, the tunes are just for driving...

I may be getting old but I can't understand the need for things like this when walking, talk, enjoy the scenery etc...I'm amazed when I go into a pub to see whole families eating with phone in one hand, texting, playing games etc - anything but actually talking to each other!

 

I got one of those last year when Tesco had them on offer for £17.50 and it is alright. No good if you're a heavy person as it is likely to tip up but for average size people not bad, just ensure it is put up properly before sitting on it. It packs up to next to nothing so is great for in the van.

I got one similar recently for £20 (not used yet) but with similar reasoning - can bake fresh rolls each day and shove something simple in it for dinner when on site which will save keep buying takeaway and be easy to manage. Fits nicely in the storage compartment of my Devon Moonraker and as you say using the electric I've already payed through the nose for...

 

Last weekend I threw a bit of left over Lasagna in the oven. Damn Delicious
I also enjoy France-fries from the oven. It takes up most of the evening baking them
And there are more uses for the oven. I'm very happy with it.

 

A good book.

 

Portable webber BBQ.